Summer With a Purpose: The Y's Commitment to Every Child

Summer is a time for kids to explore, play, and expand the limits of their imagination. At the YMCA of Greater Des Moines, our goal is not to fill the calendar with activities that merely keep kids busy – it’s to help them connect with others in meaningful ways and discover their purpose and potential. When school doors close, the Y steps into the gap to ensure that young people across our communities remain engaged, active, and supported.

At the Y, we set ourselves apart because we cultivate cause-driven leaders who intentionally foster the three key elements of youth development: achievement, relationships, and belonging. With several years of data as proof, we know that when day camps and summer programs provide quality attention to these three pillars, they unlock excellent impact results across all dimensions of a child’s well-being. When a child feels safe, valued, and challenged, their potential is limitless.

Expanding Our Reach, Relevance, and Impact 

The American Camping Association notes that thriving communities are built on equitably inclusive experiences that both attract and celebrate diversity. As we look to the future, the modern youth development movement must focus heavily on expanding its reach, relevance, and impact. To remain thriving organizations that serve school-age children of every race, economic background, and cultural identity, we must actively solve demographic and equity challenges in the communities we serve.

Camp and recreational sports have always centered on the human experience. Here in Greater Des Moines, we are meeting the future head-on by creating summer programming that removes barriers to access, celebrates individuality, and ensures every child sees themselves reflected in our leadership.

What’s Happening Across the Metro This Summer

Our standard for excellence is on full display through incredible, diverse initiatives designed to uplift our youth from the classroom to the basketball court, and even across the globe:

• The Waukee YMCA Summer Basketball League: Designed specifically for youth finishing 1st–3rd grade, this league creates a fun, positive, and development-focused recreational sports experience. Built around an all-play model, it focuses on skill development, confidence-building, teamwork, and sportsmanship. We intentionally structured this program to provide families with an approachable, community-centered summer sports option that emphasizes participation and belonging over competition alone. Hosted at the Waukee YMCA, the league is brought to life by dedicated volunteer coaches and supported by our YMCA Youth Sports Staff team.
• Y Achievers Leaders-in-Training (LIT): This 7-week program empowers teens ages 14–17 from all corners of the metro to become exceptional Summer Youth Leaders. Participants build workforce readiness, financial literacy, and professional networks through The Legacy Project: Career Ready Collective (a collaboration with the Greater Des Moines Partnership). To honor their hard work and dedication, LITs earn CPR/First Aid certification and a $50 daily stipend as they learn our Inspired Cause-Driven Leadership principles.
• Summer Learning Loss Program (SLLP): To combat the "summer slide" that disproportionately affects children from low-income households in our urban communities, this teacher-selected program is offered at no cost to families. By blending academic enrichment with traditional camp fun, it serves as a proven catalyst for boosting academic success, graduation rates, and self-confidence.
• Global Leaders Program: Global citizenship is in action as nine selected campers finalize their itinerary to travel to Kosovo for nearly two weeks. These young leaders will work directly with local youth and experience firsthand the international impact of the YMCA movement.
• Camp GOTR (Girls On The Run of Central Iowa): We are thrilled to bring back this fantastic half-day morning camp option from July 13–17 at Walnut Creek YMCA. We currently have 20 participants registered and have the capacity to serve up to 45 young runners.
• Outdoor Education & Family Camps: Our outdoor education season is thriving, welcoming students from Grinnell Fourth Grade, Van Meter Middle School, Carlisle Sixth Grade, and Bergmann Academy. Meanwhile, Family Campout Season is in full swing at Hertko Hollow site, creating meaningful connections through partnerships with the Children’s Cancer Connection, The Dealt Hand, and Y Camp's Family Connection program.

Driven by an Incredible Team

None of these life-changing experiences are possible without our dedicated staff. Our summer team is nearly full, with 170 staff spots available and an impressive 65% filled by returning leaders from last year. This high retention rate speaks volumes about the culture of purpose we build at the Y. Extensive staff training ensures every counselor and leader is equipped to provide a safe, action-packed, and emotionally supportive environment.

How You Can Help Us Make a Difference

We invite you to join us in strengthening the foundations of our community this summer. It takes a village to raise strong, character-driven leaders, and there are four distinct ways you can take action with us today:

1. Register: Sign up a young person for a YMCA summer day camp, the Waukee Basketball League, or Camp GOTR to keep them active and connected.
2. Refer: Send a high-character, motivated young person our way to fill our final remaining summer staff spots.
3. Volunteer: Give your time as a youth sports coach or support our camp and outdoor education operations.
4. Donate: Give a gift to provide access for a youth in need of financial assistance. 

Together, let’s ensure every child in Greater Des Moines has a summer defined by skill building, lifelong friendships, and a true, unwavering sense of belonging.

Cameron Nicholson
President & CEO
YMCA of Greater Des Moines